12 die in floods in Russia’s Siberia; 9 still missing

In this photo provided by Russian Emergency Situations Ministry press service, flooded houses are seen after been affected by a flooding in Irkutsk region, Russia, Friday, June 29, 2019. According to the latest data of the regional emergency command center, the flood has affected 48 settlements of five municipal districts of the region. A source in the emergency services told TASS on Saturday that as a result of the flood in the region five people died and several were reported missing. (AP Photo/Ministry of Emergency Situations press service via AP)

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MOSCOW (AP) — The Russian government says 12 people have died and another nine have gone missing in floods that swept southeastern Siberia.

Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko said during a Cabinet meeting Monday that a search for those missing is underway and that 153 people have been hospitalized.

The floods followed torrential rains and affected 55 towns and villages in the Irkutsk region. Mutko said four villages remain cut off but that they have enough emergency supplies.

Over 4,000 houses have been flooded, according to the Emergency Ministry.

President Vladimir Putin visited the area on Sunday on his way home from the Group of 20 leaders’ summit in Japan, ordering the military to join the rescue efforts.

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